Step ahead resource services was founded in 2010 to provide supported accommodation and support services to young people from all backgrounds. Step Ahead was set up as a specialist service to help and assist Care Leavers with their transition to adulthood.

My background is in Children, Families and Young people services as a qualified and registered Social worker for the past 15years. Previously I worked with Adults with variant learning disability for 7years. I have achieved PQ level 3 and a Senior Practitioner. I have years of experience working within the Local Authorities in the North-West of England and have in the past worked within the voluntary sector.

Our philosophy is that young people often need to be assisted to make positive and responsible choices in their own lives. Therefore it is our vision that young people in care would have the same opportunities in life as their peers: good education, good health care and consistent support, advice and practical help to give them a strong foundation on which they can build happy and successful lives.

Consequently long-term partnership with young people from the North-West of England and Wales, their families, carers, children and families department have developed in order to provide good quality support to vulnerable care leavers; and to work tirelessly to support these young people through the transition towards independence effectively, thereby continuing to improve the outcome for young people.

Our focus is always to provide stability, encouragement and a placement plan geared to the individual needs of the young person. Our aim to provide a person centred, quality support service, leaving care provision and accommodation, community outreach, family support, crisis intervention supervised contact arrangements, sleep-in and waking night service.

At the core of our business is a dedicated management team who work tirelessly with young people and local authorities to develop and deliver solutions. Our highly motivated staff, all of whom are CRB checked includes Social workers and NVQ level 3 qualified. The majority of the staff team also hold bachelor’s degree in various subject areas including health and social care settings. They are responsible for providing critical and holistic support packages and treat each young person as an individual with unique needs.

I welcome you to contact Step Ahead to determine how the range of services we provide meets the individual needs and satisfy the legislative and statutory requirements with regards to young care leavers.

Ellie Edworthy

Senior Support Worker

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Ellie began working with Step Ahead in 2012 as a support worker before being successful in the recruitment for her current post as senior. Ellie has worked in a range of areas including retail where she had a management role.

Ellie supports Louise to run the projects on a daily basis and has a hands on a pro active approach to supporting the young people.

Ellie is educated to degree level in Criminology and Psychology and this equipped her with the relevant skills in human development and Social growth to understand and be able to work successfully for Step Ahead. Ellie has gained experience as a key worker for young people with Step Ahead and volunteered on projects in her spare time with vulnerable young people.

Ellie hopes to continue her education both academically with the support of Step Ahead, and practically through her experience on the team to further develop and progress as the company expands.